G7 summit: ‘Excluding Russia big mistake,’ Trump slams Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau

US President Donald Trump on Monday slammed the Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau administration for excluding Russia from the G8 member nations which then grew to become G7. Calling it a “serious mistake”, he added that if he would have been the president, there would not have been a Russia-Ukraine conflict. “The G7 used to be the G8. About nine years ago, Russia was excluded, something I believe was a serious mistake. Back then, leaders like Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau didn’t want Russia involved, but had Russia remained at the table, perhaps we wouldn’t be facing a war today. If I was the president 4 years ago, we would not have a war right now,” he mentioned.The G7 quickly grew to become the G8 when Russia was included as a member, however the nation was expelled in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea and preliminary incursion into Ukraine—developments that laid the groundwork for its full-scale invasion in 2022.Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a cellphone name on Saturday and the 2 agreed that the escalating battle between Iran and Israel ought to come to an finish.“President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” he added. The name additionally briefly touched on Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and ongoing prisoner exchanges. Trump famous that whereas Ukraine wasn’t the principle focus of the decision, they mentioned upcoming exchanges and Putin’s curiosity in resuming peace talks after June 22.